Wait a second: Isn't this December? Isn't this when the record biz typically slows to a crawl, tosses all their hottest talents at radio festivals and prepares for an extended holiday vacation?

Apparently not this year. We always know to expect a few major arrivals before Christmas comes, but this week has more than its share: the first posthumous recordings from the late Amy Winehouse, the most instantly appealing Black Keys disc yet, a foray into dubstep and heavy electro from Korn, a career-spanning set from the Cure (their first official tour memento since the early '90s), a live DVD from hip-shaking Shakira and the latest star-studded efforts from Robin Thicke, T-Pain and and the mighty Roots crew.

But add to that a slew of reissues, repackages and retrospectives and this week's rundown is as chock-full as a Super Tuesday in September. View the latest wares here, or click the pic of Amy to see more.

It's a three-month journey that most of these acts describe as “punk rock summer camp.” Over the years the stories that have been passed down from one generation of bands to another have either been comical or torturous. Those involved must be having a good time, most of the time anyway, because they sign on to do it again and hordes of Warped-hopefuls continue to bang down the door of creator Kevin Lyman to be a part of this musical circus. (See photos of past Warped Tour scenes and the bands on this year's lineups by clicking here).

Maldita Vecindad was only moments into the moody nights-in-Arabia opening of its set at Pacific Amphitheatre, and lithe, limber-legged frontman Roco was soon to make the leap you see above, when the young row-hopper in a wife-beater next to me leans over and says this:

“Dude … you know, no offense or anything… but you kinda look out of place here.”

What, was it the pen? The notebook?

Or just the fact that I was probably the palest gringo in attendance, one wearing a black skull shirt with Midnight Diablo on it?